N.C.'s first lady speaks up on dog breeding

RALEIGH — North Carolina's low-profile first lady has taken the political stage while backing a bill designed to prevent animal cruelty.

Ann McCrory sat in the House gallery Thursday while the chamber debated and voted to set minimum care standards at large commercial dog-breeding operations. The bill would make breaking the rules punishable by a misdemeanor.

The wife of Gov. Pat McCrory waved to lawmakers after the vote and didn't make any comments to reporters before leaving the Legislative Building. She wrote to members of a House judiciary committee on Wednesday thanking them for approving the measure.

The advocacy marked her first foray into public political advocacy in state government.